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There are many people in this world who are only kind and friendly to those
that are kind and friendly with them. In other words, they do not or try
not to intermingle with people who don't show the same level of kindness.
As believers in the Lord and witnesses of His love and compassion, we are
called to love the unlovable and be compassionate towards those that are
less than compassionate with us. (John 13:34-35) (Matthew 5:14-16)
The Lord Jesus declares in Matthew 5:43-45, "You have heard that it was
said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you,
love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate
you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you
may be sons of your Father in heaven…" It is easy for anyone to only love
those that love them, but as an extension of God on this earth, we are to
show His love to a hurting and dying world with anticipation of positive
results. (Luke 6:32-36) (Isaiah 55:8-11)
I hope this message ministers to your heart and encourages you to be kind
and loving because the results are sure to be positive and unforgettable.
A GIRL NAMED LI-LI
A long time ago, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her
husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she
couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were
very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's
habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.
Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never
stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was
that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her
mother-in-law and obey her every wish.
All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband
great distress.
Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and
dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it. Li-Li
went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told
him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she
could solve the problem once and for all.
Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, Li-Li, I will help you
solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.
Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do."
Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a
package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to
get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become
suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly
build up poison in her body."
"Every other day prepare some pork or chicken and put a little of these
herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you
when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her.
Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."
Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her
plot of murdering her mother-in-law.
Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the
specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang
had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed
her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.
After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had
practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost
never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument in six months with her
mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.
The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love
Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that
Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her
mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.
Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.
One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She
said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my
mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like
my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her."
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry
about. I never gave you any poison. All of the herbs I gave you were simply
to improve her health."
"The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that
has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."
Author Unknown
It is easy for us to pray and ask God to change someone who is not acting
the way we wish, but if we take a moment and look at ourselves, I am sure
we will find a way to better the situation by our acts that will make a
positive impact towards that person who was not treating us the way we wished.
I pray that you have been encouraged by today's message to be the initiator
in making a bad situation better. When we treat others the way we ourselves
want to be treated, the impact is sure to be a positive one both for
ourselves and for the recipient. (Matthew 5:5-12) (Romans 12:9-18)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Luke 6:30-33 Jesus declares "Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of
him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men
should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which
love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for
sinners also do even the same."
1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify
one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish
you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be
at peace among yourselves."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that
which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: THE RIGHT WORDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem173.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: THE PRAYER OF AN ATHEIST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony25.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
